Lack of Understanding

I’m not sure about you, but I can’t for the life of me come to find the right words to describe the times we as Americans are living in today. I am confounded as to how to politely put it in words, and maybe that is the most perplexing challenge I’m faced with in how to proceed.

Some of those who know me the best tell me to quit being so polite and just say what is in my heart. Believe me, there are times I would just like to unload, but by doing so, I’m afraid I’ll never have the opportunity to bridge the divide in this country that continues to grow wider as each day passes.

I told a close friend the other day that if I were still involved in education, I would attempt to draw an analogy between what we are going through today and the fracture of this great nation’s fabric during the American Civil War.

During a conversation on a social media page a few weeks ago, I attempted to inject some “reason” to counter a statement that equated the United States to Nazi Germany during the 30’s and 40’s. I can’t think of any statement which is further from the truth. In discussions regarding race relations, I would simply say that, yes, we have had difficult times, but we’ve continued to try and heal those wounds with actions aimed at righting wrongs that were based in ignorance and fear. No clear thinking and intelligent person I know would tolerate that prejudice and inhumanity today.

It seems that lack of a true understanding and educated view of many of the issues that face us lies at the root of most of our problems. The fact that we have forgotten how to speak with one another in a civil and respectful manner defeats any attempt to solve problems or come to solutions based on facts and an intelligent dialogue, rather than rumors and speculation that continue to cloud the debate that should be occurring. It seems that whoever can reach the highest decibel level in the room declares victory, and leaves us spiraling into a deeper divide on important issues. 

Our nation stands at a crossroad in our 245 years of existence. Our Representative Republic has always been an example which other nations have looked up to with respect and admiration. Unfortunately, through our own doing, we tarnish that wonderful glow that once shone so brightly, as nations and other citizens from throughout the world looked to us for leadership and an example worthy of respect and admiration.

It seems that some of our own, especially the younger generation to whom we should preparing to hand off the torch of liberty and principled leadership, may not have a foundation of integrity, ethical values and high principles. Why is that? Is it because we have sought to provide the next generation with an easier path than age groups that came before them? Have we therefore forgotten about the value of hard work and sacrifice?

President John F. Kennedy did not omit that from his inaugural address in 1961. The core of that address centered around his belief that democracy only flourishes when a nation’s citizens contribute their talents to the common good, and that it is up to leaders to inspire citizens to sacrifice for that good: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Unfortunately, we have not seen much “inspirational leadership” lately. There is no such thing as a “free lunch.” It appears we may have forgotten the studies done by Dr. Ivan Pavlov conditioning his dogs. In my opinion, we may have followed that same theoretical experiment with our citizenry with the continued distribution of unearned government checks, rather than inspiring our citizens to move forward and be like the creative and productive men and women that made our nation one of the strongest and most respected among our peers. 

Yes, from time to time, government has a place in assisting in the priming of the “economic pump” to jump start the world’s greatest economy, but we can also cripple that great engine by not providing an incentive to work. 

This nation led the Allies to defeat tyranny in World War II, worked to produce more food and feed more people around the world as famine was sweeping some of those most at risk, and put a man on the moon when challenged by President Kennedy in that 1961 Inaugural Address. 

Yes, we’ve done a great deal, but there is more to do. We need to get off our collective asses and go back to work. Signs dot the roadways wherever you go seeking employees - workers to get the jobs done to put this nation back to work and on its feet again. On our little island alone, I speak to employers every day who are begging for employees because they risk the collapse of the businesses they have poured their life savings into. They are our neighbors and our friends, and they are trying to climb out of the ravishes of the Pandemic which ground this great economic engine to a snail’s pace over the last 18 months.

Many may disagree with some of the former President’s flowery language and his unusual tactics, but I, like many others, cannot find fault with the results of his untying the hands of the great economic machine of this country from restrictive and punitive regulations that punished our industries, while giving foreign competitors and nations an unfair advantage on the world stage.

It is time to rekindle that great spirit that made our nation the envy of the world. Government just needs to get out of the way and lets us move forward. We are tired of the political bickering and roadblocks that those in Washington and elsewhere are placing in our way, especially roadblocks devised by those who have other hidden political agendas.